Manganui River

Everett Park (downstream of Kurapete Stream)

This ring plain river drains an extensively developed agricultural catchment. The site is situated at Everett Park approximately 300 m downstream of the Kurapete Stream confluence. It is a popular site for swimming, walking, picnicking and fishing.

Why this status?

Click here for detailed information on water quality monitoring

The science

Summer season monitoring

LAWA shows the best available water quality information to help you decide where to swim. For many sites there are two types of information available, the weekly sampling result and the overall bacterial risk.

Weekly sampling result

Weekly E. coli result

Weekly Toxic Algae result

The combined weekly sampling result uses both E. coli and toxic algae data. It is a guide to the recent water quality at this site.

Overall bacterial risk

Overall E. coli risk

Overall bacterial risk is important to consider. Based on 3 years of data it is a guide to the general water quality at this site.

Reminder

Heavy rain flushes contaminants from urban and rural land into waterways and we advise you not to swim for 2 – 3 days after heavy or prolonged rain – even at sites that generally have good water quality. Check that the water is clean and clear before taking a dip.

Conditions may have changed

There has been significant rain since this site was last sampled. This may have affected the water quality at this site.

Potentially toxic algae can rapidly bloom to harmful levels, and not all freshwater sites are monitored for toxic algae. Play it safe, if you can see toxic algal blooms in rivers or lakes, avoid contact or choose another site to swim.

What do the icons mean?

Suitable for swimming – These sites are generally suitable for swimming.

Caution advised – Usually suitable for swimming but younger children and older people may be at increased risk at times. If potentially toxic algal blooms are present, avoid contact.

Unsuitable for swimming – These sites may be a health risk and are not considered suitable for swimming most of the time.

No data – There are no recent results available, or there are not enough data points to calculate an overall bacterial risk result.

Learn more

What about my dog?

Information about toxic algae

Dog owners

Keeping your dog safe and healthy this summer

A trip to the river is a lot of fun and knowing how to keep your dog safe means you are able to relax and enjoy the adventure even more. Potentially toxic algae can be harmful to dogs (and us) – this section shows you what to look for.

What to do

The best thing you can do to keep yourself, your kids and your dog safe is to know what potentially toxic algae looks like and avoid it.

If you are not sure, keep your dog on a lead at a stony river, and don’t let them in or near the water. Bring water from home for your dog so that they don’t need to drink out of the river.

What is potentially toxic algae?

Freshwater algae are naturally occurring in rivers and lakes in New Zealand, including waterways with good water quality. Most algae is harmless, if a bit slimy – but one group of algae, known scientifically as cyanobacteria, can be toxic. In rivers, this potentially toxic algae is called Phormidium. Most of the year it is present at low levels that are not much of a danger. But it can be a problem during the summer months, when low rainfall, warm temperatures and more sunlight create an environment where it can thrive. In parts of stony-based rivers it can form extensive mats which can be toxic to humans, dogs, livestock and wildlife.

Scientists do not yet understand when and why this algae turns toxic, so to be safe, always treat it as toxic.

Dogs are particularly susceptible to poisoning from toxic algae as they love to scavenge and play near water.

What to look for

In parts of stony based rivers toxic algae (also known as Phormidium) form soft, leathery-looking mats on rocks in the riverbed. These mats range in colour from blackish/brown to dark green (it's quite different from normal harmless green algae, which looks bright green and often forms long strings).

These mats can come loose and wash up on the edge of the rivers, or form ‘floating rafts’ in shallow areas. As they dry out they turn light brown or white and look like dried leaves or cowpats. They produce a strong musty smell, and this is when it poses the biggest risk to our dogs, as they love the smell and many dogs will try to eat it if they get the chance.

Council staff monitor for these mats in parts of rivers where these are known to form – often in shallow areas. Staff are not able to monitor all parts of rivers, so please learn what to look for and alert your regional or unitary council when you see algal mats so they can warn other people.

What if my dog has eaten potentially toxic algae?

If you suspect that your dog has eaten toxic algae, you should contact your vet as soon as possible. Signs a dog has been poisoned by toxic algae include lethargy, muscle tremors, fast breathing, twitching, paralysis and convulsions.

What's at this site?

Find out all recreational activities and facilities at this site

Activities & facilities

Site suitable for these activities and has these facilities

Our lakes, rivers, and beaches are great natural playgrounds but they can be unpredictable. Be aware of other potential risks such as rips, strong currents, sudden drop offs, or underwater objects before jumping in. LAWA recommends that you avoid swimming for 2 - 3 days after heavy rainfall and follow the advice of any warning signs in place.